The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

'Yet another young adult author that has written a dystopian future trilogy?' is what I thought when I was recommended James Dashner’s Maze Runner trilogy by a friend. I was not looking forward to reading this series and figured it would be very similar to many other teen series that have been popular in recent years. It took me three years to finally pick up this book and finish it and it was worth it. The Maze Runner is a unique and thrilling novel that takes you to a desolate world where a group of teenaged boys are fighting for their lives and trying to figure out the maze they have been mysteriously sent to.

The main character in these books is Thomas who loses his memory before being put in this maze and isn’t even sure how old he is. The story starts with Thomas waking up in what seems to be an underground elevator and it is moving toward the surface. Once he appears at the surface, he is greeted by many other young men who refer to this new world he has entered as the Glade.

For two years, these boys and many other who have died have been trying to solve a maze that surrounds the Glade. Everyday boys called runners go and try to find an exit. Within the maze are creatures that will either kill you or string you and make you go insane if you happen upon one.

The day after Thomas arrives something strange happens, a girl arrives and completely changes the game. Thomas must solve this puzzle before they all end up dead.

This book had a slow start for me and did not answer questions until the end, leaving me confused for about half of the book. Once the pace of this book picked up and the action began, I could not put it down. There are two other books after this one and those are equally as good, if not better than the first. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys dystopian future or adventure/action books.